Display package and article container



Feb. 27, 1968 J. R. LEVEY ETAL DISPLAY PACKAGE AND ARTICLE CONTAINER 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1967 L I Y M Y R t E OEA T K R NW .0 VT V Ml N 5 mm a 4 Y 6 MM 7 W 6 m .5 1 O M ,x H 0 MM :2 w H J. R. LEVEY ETAL3,370,697

DISPLAY PACKAGE AND ARTICLE CONTAINER Feb. 27, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet FiledMay 6, 1967 INVENTORS JAY Z.

Feb. 27, 1968 J. R. LEVEY ETAL 3,370,697

DISPLAY PACKAGE AND ARTICLE CONTAINER Filed May 8, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTORS JAY LEVEY J SEPH M. KARL United States Patent Cfiice 3,376,597Patented Feb. 27, 1968 3,370,67 DISPLAY PACKAGE AND ARTIULE CQNTAINERJay R. Levey, Easton, Pa., and .loseph M. Kari, Washington, Ni,assignors to Gxwall Tool (30., Ltd, Flashing, N.Y., a corporation of NewYork Filed May 8, H67, Ser. No. 636,948 6 Claims. (Cl. 266-4534)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A display package and article container, suchas for small hand tools and the like, has its transparent toolholdingblister platform locked to the container in inverted position with thetools held in platform-recesses against gravitation for visual displayof such tools. The blister platfronr is locked in the container toprevent pilfering of the tools while on display, and after sale thepurchaser merely disengages the blister platfrom from the locking taband reverses it, to position the tools uppermost in the articlecontainer ready for selected use of such tools as desired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore in the art it has been thepractice to display the container, such as a box for small hand tools,by simply opening the lid but unfortunately such display in no wayguards against pilfering of the tools from the box. In an efiort tominimize the latter resort has been taken to covering the box after thelid is opened with a thin sheet of cellophane or similar transparentsheeting. This, however, has not been too successful because thethinness of such sheeting renders it susceptible to ready tearing andequally significant adds appreciably to manufacturing cost of the entirebox without accomplishing the desired result.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly the primary object of thepresent invention to provide a display package and article container,such as for small hand tools and the like, wherein the tools are heldagainst gravitation in recesses provided in a transparent platform andwith the latter locked in inverted position within a box to preventpilfering of such tools while on display.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a displaypackage and article container wherein the inverted transparent andlocked platform holding hand tools while on display is readily unlockedand reversed by the purchaser, then reinserted in the tool box to rendersuch tools selectively accessible for use as desired.

- A further object of the present invention is the provision of adisplay package and article container formed of molded plastic andhaving an inverted transparent platform locked therein by tabs afiixedto the box for displaying articles, such as small hand tools heldagainst gravitation within recesses in the underside of said platform,and wherein such platform is readily reversible by a purchaser uponunlocking from the locking tabs thus rendering such hand toolsselectively accessible.

The foregoing objects, together with others which will become readilyapparent to those skilled in the art as the following descriptionproceeds, are achieved in accordance with the present invention by theprovision of a plastic box which readily serves as a display package foradvertising purposes by rendering articles therein completely visible.By supporting the articles, such as hand tools and the like, againstgravitation from' recesses in an inverted transparent platform and whichis locked in such box by fixed or resiliently supported tabs, the toolscan be readily observed while at the same time being protected againstpilfering. Thereafter a purchaser merely removes the transparentplatform by first unlocking it from the securing tabs and then reversingthe platform thus making the tools selectively accessible as desired.

The present invention may be more fully appreciated by reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an open perspective view of the display package and articlebox and showing the inverted transparent article-holding platformpreparatory to inserting and locking it within the box.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the invertedtransparent platform locked within the box against pilfering during itsdisplay.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the transparenttool-holding platform in its reversed position and rendering the handtool articles selectively accessible to the purchaser.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 1V-1V of FIG. 2 andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG. 1and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line VIVI of FIG.2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 and showing the preferredarrangement for locking in the transparent platform by the use of fixedor stationary tabs on the inner side walls of the box.

Referring now to the drawings in detail the display package and articlecontainer as shown in the several figures comprises a molded box 5 ofsuitable plastic material which may be polypropylene or polyethylene fordurabiiity. Such box 5 is provided with a lid 6 molded from the sameplastic material as the box and with the two joined together by livehinges 7 and constituting thin webs of the same plastic material as thebox and lid, since all are molded at the same time as a one piece unit.The upper peripheral edge of the box 5 is of substantially U-s'nape withone leg thereof slightly shorter than the other, to thus form a groove 8which mates with a thin- Walied edge 9 of the lid 6 in the closedposition of the box, as can be seen more clearly in FIG. 4.

The outer front surface of the box 5 is provided with thickenedrectangular portions to form lugs 10 which are engageable by perforatedlocking flaps 12 carried by the lid 6, as shown particularly in FIGS. 1and 2, for the purpose of locking the box 5 in its closed position asseen in FIG. 4. The opposite disposed side-walls of the box 5 areprovided with molded tabs 13 shown as tapering outwardly, as seen inFIG. 1. Since these tabs are of the same molded plastic as the hinges 7and are thin-walled they likewise may be characterized as live tabs, bywhich is meant that continued flexing thereof in a direction normal totheir flat surface in no way destroys such tabs or hinges.

'By reference, however, more particularly to FIGS. 5 and 6 it will benoted that these tabs 13 may be said to be double-hinged, first at theirmolded juncture 14 to the wall of the box 5 and again upon itself at 15a short distance from the hinged junction 14. This enables these tabs 13to be moved inwardly and downwardly of the box 5, as shown in FIGS. 2and 6 for a purpose now to be described.

Referring againmore specifically to FIG. 1, the present inventionincludes a platform or tray 16 of a suitable transparent plastic such ascommonly used for blister packaging. This tray 16 is provided with aplurality of slightly undercut blister grooves 17 shaped to receivedesired tools or the like, such as various type screw driver blades 18and a handle 19 therefor, and each blister groove 17 has an integralprojection 20 so that when the various tools are pressed into itsrespective groove 17 it is firmly retained therein against gravitationaldislodgernent when the tray is inverted, such as shown in FIG. 1, readyfor positioning in the box 5.

Each of the side walls of the tray 16 is provided with a dove-tailgroove 22, shown more clearly in FIG. 1, which receives the respectivedouble-hinged tabs 13 to firmly secure the tray 16 in its invertedposition within the box 5 and thus prevents pilferage of the tools 18when the entire unit is displayed on a shelf or counter, .as seen inFIG. 2. Since the live-hinged tabs 13 first extend from the boxside-wall across the top of the tray 16 and then downwardly into thedove-tail groove 22, as clearly shown in FIG. 6, the tray 16 is lockedin its inverted position within the box 5 and cannot be removed untilsuch tabs are withdrawn. Also, the tools 18 remain securely within theirrespective undercut blister grooves 17 against gravitationaldisplacement while the tray is inverted, due to the relatively tight fitprovided by the integral projections 28, as previously mentioned.Inasmuch as the tray 16 is clearly transparent, the tools are readilyobservable by a prospective purchaser at all times during display eventhough they cannot be readily removed from the article container.

When the article container is acquired by a purchaser they need merelywithdraw the dove-tail tabs 13 from the respective tapered lockinggrooves 22, remove the tray 16 from the box and, after turning it overreinsert such tray right-side up into the box 5, thus placing the tools18 in a position to be readily grasped by a user and removed therefromas desired. So far as the dove-tail tabs 13 are concerned they may beclipped or torn ofi. at their juncture 14 with the box wall or be tuckeddown between the tray 16 and the side wall of the box 5 since the.thinness of the transparent tray makes it sutficiently yieldable thatthe tabs can'be so accommodated. During non-use of the article containerthe lid 6 is closed disposing the lower edge or rim 9 within theU-shaped mating edge 8 of the box where it is locked by the flaps 12snapping over the lugs 19 thus forming a relatively dust tightcontainer.

By reference now more specifically to FIG. 7, a preferred embodiment isshown therein which is substantially more economical to produce as a onepiece molded unit. In this particular modification the lid 6 is shown asprovided with the distorted U-shaped edge to form a groove 18 while theperipheral edge 19 of the box 5 fits into such groove 18. While thereversal of these two edges from that shown in FIG. 1 is not alone asignificant cost reduction,.the provision of stationary molded tabs 23as shown in FIG. 7 results in a substantial saving. Each of the fourinner walls of the box 5 in this modification is provided with one ofthe molded tabs 23, which measures approximately one-sixteenth of aninch in thickness and is about one inch in length, and protrudeshorizontally outward therefrom. When the transparent platform or tray'16 is inserted in the box 5 the side-walls of such tray are readilyyieldable because of its thin transparent composition thus disposing thetray 16 in inverted position within the box 5 and held firmly by thefour tabs 23 against pilferage. Upon purchase thereof the buyer merelycompresses the walls of the tray 16 slightly and withdraws it from thebox 5, and after turning the tray right-side up reinserts it in the box5, thus rendering the tools readily accessible in the same manner aspreviously described.

It should accordingly be obvious to those skilled in the art from theforegoing that a display package and article container has been hereinshown and described in which the articles housing therein are heldagainst pilfering during display by an inverted and firmly securedtransparent tray in which they are readily observable at all times. Sucharticles are disposed in grooves provided in the tray and held againstgravitation therefrom in the inverted position of the tray, by suitableprojections or the like making for a relatively tight frictional fittingof the articles therein. Moreover, when the article is sold thepurchaser merely unlocks the tray and, after removing it from thecontainer, turns it right-side up and reinserts it therein which thusrenders each separate article readily accessible at all times to theuser.

Although two specific embodiments of the present invention have beenherein shown and described it is to be understood that still furthermodifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A display package and article container for small tools and the likecomprising:

(a) a box,

(b) a transparent tray provided with recesses therein for receivingarticles and disposed in inverted spaced relation with the bottom ofsaid box,

(c) securing means on said tray for holding articles in said recessesagainst gravitation,

(d) locking means carried by said box and engageable with said invertedtray for retaining the latter in said box to prevent pilfering of thearticles therefrom during display of said article container, and (c)said transparent tray being reversible by a purchaser upon disengagementof said locking means to render the articles on said tray selectivelyremovable from said box when said tray is reinserted right-side up insaid box. 2. A display package and article container as set forth inclaim 1 wherein:

said box is of molded durable plastic having preselected resiliency. 3.A display package and article container as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said box has a molded plastic cover mating with the upper edge of saidbox in its closed position and which is provided with integral hinges ofthe same durable plastic and preselected resiliency as said box and itscover.

4. A display package and article container as set forth in claim 1wherein: said transparent tray is of plastic with its recesses molded toconform in size and shape to the article received therein and suchrecesses having projections frictionally engageable with said article toprevent gravitation of the latter out of said recess in the invertedposition of said tray. 7 5. A display package and article container asset forth in claim 1 wherein:

said locking means comprises a plastic tab integrally molded to oppositewalls of said box and engageable with said tray to hold the latter inlocked position in said box. 6. A display package and article containerfor small tools and the like comprising:

(a) a box, (b) a transparent tray provided with recesses therein forreceiving articles and disposed in inverted spaced relation with thebottom of said box,

(c) securing means on said tray for holding articles in said recessesagainst gravitation,

(d) locking means carried by said box and engageable with said invertedtray for retaining the latter in said box to prevent pilfering of thearticles therefrom during display of said article container,

(e) said locking means comprising a resilient plastic tab integrallymolded in hinged relation to opposite walls of said box and insertableinto grooves provided in the adjacent Walls of said transparent tray tohold the latter in locked position in said box during display of saidarticle container, and

(f) said transparent tray being reversible by a purchaser upondisengagement of said locking means to render the articles on said trayselectively removable from said box when said tray is reinsertedright-side up in said box.

WILLIAM References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 4/ 1964 France.

T. DIXSON, JR., Primary Examiner.

